Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
11.9.22 It is concluded that the proposed Camilty development will not add cumulatively to the effects
on this habitat within the surrounding area.
Potential Cumulative Effects on Protected Species
11.9.23 The 5 km buffer distance takes into account the ranging distances of protected species
detected on the Camilty site and the context and resource of the habitats recorded within the
surrounding area. In north-east Scotland, core foraging areas of common pipistrelle have
been recorded to extend much further from the roost than for soprano pipistrelle (mean of
1.44 km and 0.69 km respectively) (Harris and Yalden 2008). Otters tend to occupy large
home ranges with males ranging along approximately 32 km of watercourse length and
females ranging along 20 km of watercourse length (SNH, 2008). This varies greatly
depending on the density of waterways within an area and the availability of prey within the
area. While the habitats within the site boundary were generally assessed as being of low
potential for otter, the surrounding area contains a number of good quality waterways and
waterbodies with good foraging potential. Badger territories have been recorded to range
from c.30 ha (0.3 km 2 ) in optimal habitat to >150 ha (1.5 km 2 ) in marginal habitats (Harris
and Yalden 2008).
Otter
11.9.24 The EIA for Harburnhead Wind Farm assessed that the proposal is not considered to have a
significant effect on otter.
11.9.25 No signs of otter were found at Pearie Law wind farm and its construction is not considered
to have a significant effect on otters.
11.9.26 The EIA for Fauch Hill wind farm found evidence of otter along the courses of the Crosswood
Burn, Shear Burn, at a discharge into the Crosswood Reservoir and to the north of the site
along the upper sections of the Water of Leith west of Colzium. It was concluded that Fauch
Hill would not have a significant effect on the status or conservation value of otter associated
with the site during construction.
11.9.27 While the surrounding wind farms were considered to have a minor or negligible effect on
otter, if Camilty was to undergo construction as the same time as Fauch Hill wind farm,
cumulatively, this may result in an increased disturbance and displacement of otter during
construction. This potential effect is considered to be of small magnitude and slight level of
effect (not significant in terms of the EIA Regulations).
Bat Species
11.9.28 Pearie Law wind farm was considered to have low bat activity across the site, dominated by
common and widespread species but there were a low number of records for the rarer
Nyctalus species. It was concluded that the construction after mitigation will not have a
significant effect on bats within the site.
11.9.29 Fauch Hill wind farm recorded five species of bats within the site including the rarer
Nathusius pipistrelle. No roosts were found. Mitigation measures included micro-siting
turbines and creating woodland edges. It was considered that the project would not have a
significant effect on the nature conservation value of bats.
11.9.30 Harburnhead surveys indicated that the area was used very infrequently by brown longeared
and Myotis bats. The predominant species were common pipistrelle and soprano
pipistrelle. No bat roosts would be impacted and the impacts would be minimised by
March 2013 11-43 ES Chapter 11
Terrestrial Ecology
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